राम राजीवपत्त्राक्ष प्रकृतार्थदिदृक्षया । मुनिम् आबोधय पुनः प्रसादे समवस्थितम्
Rama, lotus-eyed one, eager to see the true nature of things, once again awaken the sage who abides in tranquility.
इत्य् उक्ते भूभृता तत्र रामाभिमुखम् आस्थितः । उवाचेदम् उदारात्मा वसिष्ठो भगवान् मुनिः
When the king had spoken thus, the noble-hearted sage Vasistha, facing Rama, addressed him with these words.
राघव स्वकुलैकेन्दो तं मयोक्तं महामते । कच्चित् स्मरसि वाक्यार्थं पूर्वापरविचारितम्
Raghava, sole moon of your lineage, wise one, do you remember the meaning of what I have previously explained, having considered it from all sides?
उत्पत्तीनां विचित्राणां सत्त्वादिगुणभेदतः । कच्चित् स्मरसि सर्वासां विभागम् अरिमर्दन
Do you recall, O destroyer of foes, the distinctions among all the various creations according to the differences in the qualities of sattva and the others?
कच्चित् सर्वम् असर्वं च सद् असच् च सदोदितम् । रूपं स्मरसि देवस्य विमलं परमात्मनः
Do you remember the ever-taught form of the divine, O Rama—the all, the not-all, the existent and the non-existent, the pure form of the supreme Self?
यथेदम् उदितं विश्वं विश्वेशाद् ईश्वरेश्वरात् । कच्चित् स्मरसि तत् साधो साधुवादैकभाजन
Just as this universe has arisen from the Lord of the universe, the ruler of rulers—do you recall that, O noble one, who is the sole recipient of noble teachings?
रूपं कच्चिद् अविद्यायाः फल्गुभङ्गुरम् आततम् । अनन्तम् अन्तवच् चैव सम्यक् स्मरसि सन्मते
Do you truly remember, O wise one, that the form of ignorance is spread out, slight and fragile, infinite yet appearing finite?
चित्तम् एव नरो नान्यद् इति यत् प्रतिपादितम् । लवणादिविचारेण कच्चित् स्मरसि साधु तत्
Do you recall well, O virtuous one, what was established—that the mind alone is the person, and nothing else—through the inquiry into salt and so forth?
वाक्यार्थश् चाखिलः कच्चित् त्वया राम विचारितः । ह्यस्तनस्य विचारस्य रात्रौ हृदि निवेशितः
O Rama, have you thoroughly examined the meaning of all the statements, and has last night's inquiry been placed in your heart?
भूयो भूयः परामृष्टं हृदये सुनियोजितम् । प्रयोजनं फलत्य् उच्चैर् न हेलाहतसंस्थिति
What is repeatedly reflected upon and firmly established in the heart bears fruit abundantly; not so when it is neglected or treated carelessly.
भाजनं त्वं विविक्तानां वचसां शुद्धिशालिनाम् । विविक्तहृदयो वेणुर् मुक्तानाम् इव मानद
You are the vessel for pure and distinguished words, O bestower of honor; your heart is solitary and pure, like a bamboo for the liberated.
कमलासनपुत्रेण मुनिना सुमहौजसा । एवंवितीर्णावसरो रामो वाक्यम् उवाच ह
When the occasion had thus passed, Rama spoke these words to the sage, the son of the lotus-seated one, who possessed great power and knowledge.
भगवन् सर्वधर्मज्ञ तवैवैतद् विजृम्भितम् । यद् अहं परमोदारं बुद्धवान् वचनं तव
O revered one, knower of all dharmas, it is solely through you that this has been revealed; that I have attained your supremely noble teaching.
यद् आदिशसि तत् सर्वं तथैव न तद् अन्यथा । अपास्तनिद्रेण मया वाक्यार्थो निशि चिन्तितः
Whatever you command, all that is just so, not otherwise; free from sleep, I have reflected upon the meaning of your words during the night.
भवान्धकारक्षतये भवतोर्वीविवस्वता । ह्यः प्रसारितम् आह्लादि वाग्रश्मिपटलं प्रभो
To dispel the darkness of existence, O Lord, yesterday you spread forth a delightful array of radiant speech, like the sun upon the earth.
तद् अदीनम् अदीनात्मन् सर्वम् अन्तःकृतं मया । रम्यं पुण्यं विचित्रं च रत्नवृन्दम् इवाब्धिना
All that, O undepressed one of undepressed spirit, has been taken to heart by me—charming, virtuous, and wondrous, like a collection of gems from the ocean.
हितानुबन्धि हृद्यं च पुण्यम् आनन्दसाधनम् । शिरसा ध्रियते कैर् नो सिद्ध्यै त्वदनुशासनम्
Who would not, for success, bear your instruction upon their head—beneficial, pleasing, virtuous, and a source of bliss?
प्रक्षीयमाणसंसारनीहारावरणा वयम् । प्रसन्नास् त्वत्प्रसादेन वर्षान्त इव वासराः
We, whose veil of worldly delusion is being dissolved, are serene by your grace, like days at the end of the rainy season.
आपातमधुरारम्भं मध्ये सौभाग्यवर्धनम् । अनुत्तमफलोदर्कं पुण्यं त्वदनुशासनम्
Your instruction is virtuous—sweet at the outset, increasing good fortune in the middle, and yielding the highest fruit in the end.
विकासि सितम् अम्लानम् आह्लादि मुदिताशयम् । त्वद्वचःकुसुमं नित्यं श्रीमत्फलदम् अस्तु नः
May your words, ever blossoming, white, unfading, delightful, and gladdening the heart, always bestow upon us splendid fruit.
सकलशाश्वतशास्त्रविशारद प्रसृतपुण्यजलैकमहाह्रद । भज भृशं विततव्रत सम्प्रति प्रसृततां हतकिल्बिष मां प्रति
O master of all eternal scriptures, great lake of ever-flowing waters of virtue, steadfast in manifold vows—now let your favor, free from all sin, be extended to me.
इदम् उत्तमसिद्धान्तसुन्दरं सुन्दराकृते । उपशान्तिप्रकरणं शृणुष्वावहितो हितम्
Listen attentively, O beautiful one, to this excellent and delightful section on tranquility, which is beneficial and well established in the highest doctrine.
दीर्घसंसारमायेयं राम राजसतामसैः । धार्यते पुरुषैर् नित्यं सुस्तम्भैर् इव मण्डपः
O Rāma, this long-standing illusion of worldly existence is sustained by people of rajas and tamas, just as a pavilion is held up by sturdy pillars.
सत्त्वस्थजातिभिर् वीरैस् त्वादृशैर् गुणबृंहितैः । हेलया त्यज्यते पक्वा मायेयं त्वग् इवोरगैः
But this matured illusion is easily cast off by heroic ones established in sattva, like you, who are endowed with virtues—just as a snake sheds its old skin.
ये सत्त्वजातयः प्राज्ञास् तथा राजससात्त्विकाः । विचारयन्ति ते साधो जगत् पूर्वापरं परम्
Those wise ones who are of sattvic nature, or a blend of rajas and sattva, O noble one, thoroughly examine the world—its past, future, and highest truth.
शास्त्रसज्जनसत्कारसङ्गेनापगतैनसाम् । सारावलोकिनी बुद्धिर् जायते दीपिकोपमा
Through association with scriptures, good people, and noble company, and by being free from sin, the discerning intellect arises, shining like a lamp.
स्वयम् एव विचारेण विचार्यात्मानम् आत्मना । यावन् नाधिगतं ज्ञेयं न तावद् अधिगम्यते
By self-inquiry alone, one must examine oneself with one's own mind; until the knowable is attained, it is not truly realized.
प्रज्ञावतां नयवतां धीराणां कुलशालिनाम् । जात्या राजससत्त्वानां मुख्यस् त्वं कुलनन्दन
Among the wise, the prudent, the steadfast, and those of noble lineage, you, O delight of your family, are foremost among those born of rajas and sattva.
स्वयम् आलोकय प्राज्ञ संसारारम्भदृष्टिषु । किं सत्यं किम् असत्यं वा भव सत्यपरायणः
See for yourself, O wise one, in the origins of worldly existence: what is true and what is untrue—be devoted to truth.
आदाव् अन्ते च यन् नास्ति कीदृशी तस्य सत्यता । आदाव् अन्ते च यन् नित्यं तत् सत्यं राम नेतरत्
That which does not exist in the beginning and at the end—how can that be considered real? That which is eternal at the beginning and at the end, O Rama, that alone is true, not anything else.